VA Form 40-10007
Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery
You want to confirm your eligibility for national cemetery burial in advance and share the determination with your family so they know your final arrangements are pre-approved.
- Who fills it
- veteran
- Journey phase
- Specialty Benefits
- Estimated time
- 20-30 minutes.
- When to file
- Anytime while living. The determination is valid indefinitely.
Official VA form page: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility/
Gather before you start
- ▸DD-214 or equivalent service records
- ▸Your full legal name, SSN, DOB, address
- ▸Preferred national cemetery (optional - you can list up to 3)
- ▸Names of eligible family members for whom you also want pre-need eligibility confirmed (spouse, children)
Attach with the form
- ▸DD-214 (copy)
- ▸For non-veteran applicants: documentation of relationship to veteran
Section I - Veteran Identification
Blocks 1-7Veteran name, SSN, DOB, address, military servicePII
Your complete identifying information and military service summary. VA uses this to verify eligibility against NPRC and VA records.
(legal name, SSN, service branch and dates)
Common mistakes
- ×Incomplete service information - VA needs branch and approximate dates to verify eligibility.
Section II - Preferred National Cemetery
Blocks 8-12Preferred VA national cemetery (optional, up to 3 preferences)
You can request to be buried at a specific VA national cemetery or leave open for family to choose at time of death. Most national cemeteries are at capacity for Veterans only (spouses and minor children can be buried there too). Check current availability at cem.va.gov. Popular options often have wait lists.
e.g., 1. Tucson National Cemetery; 2. National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
Common mistakes
- ×Assuming your preferred cemetery is available - check current availability before listing a preference.
- ×Not knowing that burial in a national cemetery is completely free for eligible veterans, spouses, and minor/helpless children.
Authority
- 38 USC 2402 - Who may be buried in a VA national cemetery.
Section III - Family Members Seeking Pre-Need Determination
Blocks 13-18Spouse or children seeking pre-need eligibility confirmationRepeatable
You can also request pre-need determinations for your spouse and dependent children at the same time. Eligible family members include: current spouse (even if you predecease them, they may be buried with you), unmarried minor children, and permanently helpless children. Provide their full legal names, SSNs, and DOBs.
e.g., Jane Smith (spouse), SSN: 987-65-4321, DOB: 05/10/1952
Common mistakes
- ×Not knowing that surviving spouses may be buried in the same grave or an adjacent grave in a national cemetery.
- ×Forgetting to include adult helpless children - they qualify at any age.
Section IV - Certification
Blocks 19-20Veteran signature and datePII
Sign and date. VA will send a pre-need determination letter that you should keep with your important documents and share with family.
(your signature/date)
Common mistakes
- ×Not sharing the determination letter with family - the whole point is to make burial arrangements easier at time of death.
- ×Not attaching DD-214 - VA cannot verify eligibility without service records.
Statutory and regulatory authority
- 38 USC 2402 - Who may be buried in a VA national cemetery.